deskthority

wcass wrote: But the folks that join this project get will get a quality keyboard and bragging rights.

When this project is finally over, best not to brag to anyone simply because it becomes an item that will be highly sought after.

Just like any expensive Art piece better to keep quiet and enjoy it for yourself and your closest family, rather than show everyone out there that you have it under your roof and that it may be unprotected and unsecured .

BTW, does anybody have updates on the springs, compact cases and PBT keycaps (and dye sub process)?
I'd love to hear the new springs

What's your layout?
Here's mine.

Elrick wrote:

green-squid wrote: But what if the reviews are good and it sells well enough to make this into a regularly manufactured product?

You really think that Ellipse will be doing this ----- Forever?

His life has all but stopped just for this project alone and I suspect he isn't looking forward to doing more Model-Fs till the day he dies. All good things occur and pass away simply because in the end it's exactly like producing Art.

Some Artists produce something unique then pass away but later professionals start looking at their work as a major contributor to the World of Art and their work becomes revered and worshiped.

This is like Ellipse, he won't be around forever turning out millions of his keyboards like Unicomp has done and we all know how bad Unicomp has become with their quality and finish. For Ellipse, it's a once off project and like all Great Art Projects it has to come to an end simply because he deserves some time alone to pursue other interests.

Okay okay I get it.

wcass wrote: If there is a lot of demand for this, I expect cheap knock-offs to me made.

I have a LOT of respect for Ellipse, (so ellipse, don't feel bad, PLEASE) but I'm kind of hoping that'll be the case.

Or maybe he can sell the molds at the end to some chinese company that maybe makes some parts from a cheaper material, since he worked so much on those molds, and then

Don't take this on yourself, mister Ellipse!

Luna wrote: What's your layout?
Here's mine.

The attachment keyboard-layout3.jpg is no longer available

One of my ideas

Luna wrote: What's your layout?
Here's mine.

keyboard-layout3.jpg

Looks great. My favorite layout so far.

Hello,
how many keyboards will be produced in total?
Thank you
Mio

Mio wrote: Hello,
how many keyboards will be produced in total?
Thank you
Mio

As many boards will be made as are ordered.
There could be 1,000 boards. There could be 10,000 boards.

If you place your order now, you will get one. If you place your order during round two, you will get one. Any times other than that and you likely won't have the option get one except from maybe overstock or on the used market. Ellipse has not discussed post-production plans in detail and it is assumed that there will be no more production runs after these two. This of course does not prevent a third party, e.g. Unicomp, from starting a similar but unrelated project (and however unlikely, even if another entity did start a Model F project, it would most likely be a cost reduced version made to a different standard and in a different form factor).

If you place your order now, you will get one. If you place your order during round two, you will get one. Any times other than that and you likely won't have the option get one except from maybe overstock or on the used market. Ellipse has not discussed post-production plans in detail and it is assumed that there will be no more production runs after these two. This of course does not prevent a third party, e.g. Unicomp, from starting a similar but unrelated project (and however unlikely, even if another entity did start a Model F project, it would most likely be a cost reduced version made to a different standard and in a different form factor).

thank you, it seems an interesting project, I just don't undestand why this has to be a limited production, as it's seem so different and special from any other "group buy"... but I guess I have to read all the 101 pages here and learn some more!...

I just don't undestand why this has to be a limited production, as it's seem so different and special from any other "group buy"...

I guess you meant to write "... as it's seem no different..." right?
Most custom keyboards do not go far off the beaten track: they create a case and maybe a PCB where you can mount well-know switches.
Ellipse went a little bit further than that and re-created a complex keyboard, including the freaking switches!

darkcruix wrote:

Luna wrote: What's your layout?
Here's mine.

keyboard-layout3.jpg

F77.png

One of my ideas

What do you think, good idea?
I thought about standard TKL as well because I like the arrows position better that way but then there are 5 switches around/above the cursors as there doesn’t seem to be a TKL option with casing between the cursors and the rest lf the navigation keys.
I wonder if I made the right choice.

tron wrote:

Luna wrote: What's your layout?
Here's mine.

keyboard-layout3.jpg

Looks great. My favorite layout so far.

Mine too .

He actually makes this keyboard very functional under OUR current usage pattern.

Thank you for that darkcruix, much appreciated.

If there's interest, I've attached a few more here.

HHKB F77: HHKB F77: F62:

Is there a date set for deciding on the final layout or was that already decided with sending in a layout with the order?

No chance on changing from HHKB to ANSI anymore I believe?

Luna wrote: Is there a date set for deciding on the final layout or was that already decided with sending in a layout with the order?

No chance on changing from HHKB to ANSI anymore I believe?

I feel like you still have plenty of time to change your order

Feel or sure?

Key Success! The key factory told me they have successfully corrected the key molds and showed me a video of the new keys and barrels working smoothly! I will of course evaluate the samples when they arrive in a couple weeks to make sure all tolerances are met. Below is a photo from one of the key molds. Once the PBT material, tolerances, and colors are approved then key production will start.

After that the keys will need to be dye sublimated. The sample keys from the new factory successfully accepted dye sublimation on their key tops but the dye sublimation techniques to reduce bleeding and ensure deep black text are still being worked on. As noted in the February update the factory got the key top texture perfect their first try!

Sorry there has not been much to update the first few weeks back into production this month. The factory is still at work on the project.

The first new production parts will be shipping this week - those who ordered only F122 or F107 foam! If you need your foam early and would like separate shipping please let me know.

The ultra compact cases and inner assembly parts are still in production. Some unfinished F77 ultra compact case tops are in the photo below.

My dick.

Looking good! Thanks for the update.
Btw, are all the cases machined aluminum or just the ultra compacts?

Just the Ultra Compacts are Aluminum - the classic ones are a zinc alloy

Ellipse wrote: Key Success! The key factory told me they have successfully corrected the key molds ...

This is great news!

A few of the larger rocks still to climb (as far as I understand it):
- PBT molds to produce keycaps / keys within the tolerances (started, looks promising)
- PBT color mixture to be finalized for the various variations (Pebble / Pearl / Mopar Blue / Dark Grey / Black)
- Dye Sub Process to be finalized / tested with the PBT keys arriving and starting to print keys properly aligned
- Spring manufacturing to be finished and shipped to China
- Compact Cases manufacturing to be finished
- Compact Case coloring (black / grey / etc)
- Flipper & Spring assembly
- PCB, Controller, Foam, Flipper/Spring, Case, keycap assembly
- Packaging, Shipment, QA

Hey Ellipse!

I was wondering whether it is possible to order springs alone. I have a couple IBM Model F boards whose springs I would like to replace with some brand-new ones.

Thanks!

Ellipse wrote: The first new production parts will be shipping this week - those who ordered only F122 or F107 foam! If you need your foam early and would like separate shipping please let me know.

Great news for me. I've been waiting on this to start my F107 restoration.

I'm curious : what will you be doing with the molds after you're done?

green-squid wrote: I'm curious : what will you be doing with the molds after you're done?

most likely continuing production of these model f keyboards. the group buy was only for original funding for the R/D required to make these a reality.

mike52787 wrote:

green-squid wrote: I'm curious : what will you be doing with the molds after you're done?

most likely continuing production of these model f keyboards. the group buy was only for original funding for the R/D required to make these a reality.

That would be awesome!

I must assume this is not the case and that there will be no other F keyboards from Ellipse once the first and second runs are sold.... I asked the same question just some days ago!...

Today I packed the first Brand New Model F production parts for shipment! F107 and F122 foam are going out tomorrow.

If you want F107 or F122 foam please order soon. I have only 4 left of the F122/F107 foam and that will be it for early shipping (the rest will ship later this year).

Yes enrique it is OK to order extra springs and flippers. They will ship later this year.

Yes after four long years the project will be ending after the final round later this year. The molds will be likely discarded, not sold.

Ellipse wrote: [...] Yes after four long years the project will be ending after the final round later this year. The molds will be likely discarded, not sold.

Very likely I'm missing an obvious reason here, but if you could point it out, I'd appreciate it. Why go through all of this, produce two rounds, and then end it? It seems highly likely that there will continue to be demand for these boards. Why limit it to the people who are/have been active in the hobby during the past four years?